The Jets have signed veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, who backed up Drew Brees last season for the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, to a two-year contract. The move Wednesday had been expected for several months as New York sought an experienced quarterback to back up Mark Sanchez.

Perhaps no two players better exemplify the reward and risk of drafting a quarterback than Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, the top two picks of the 1998 NFL draft. USA TODAY looks back at the quarterback classes of the past dozen drafts.

Mark Sanchez needed one play to get his NFL career off to a rousing start. Sanchez completed a 48-yard pass to David Clowney on his first NFL play, and the Jets rookie engineered an early scoring drive in New York's 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Friday night.

Brett Favre informed the New York Jets on Wednesday of his intention to retire, bringing to an end an 18-year NFL career replete with passing records, three MVP awards and a Super Bowl title. "He told us he no longer wanted to play football, he was done," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in a conference call.

New York Jets rookie quarterback Erik Ainge has been suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on steroids and related substances. Ainge, already on injured reserve and out for the season with a foot injury, is not allowed to be with the team or at its facility during the suspension. He'll be eligible to rejoin the team Dec. 15, following the Jets' game against Buffalo.